Extremely, incredibly, very pretty things to get yourself for Christmas

moreso masking as a list of things I've been obsessively bookmarking this year

Well, hello again. We can nonchalantly gloss over the fact that it has been exactly one year ago today since my last post here. But only a brief gloss over because I’ll be catching you up on the goings on and new finds and obsessions discovered during that time over the course of several posts coming going forward. The first of which is a gift guide of sorts with Christmas gifts and gift giving.

Despite the deluge of news that continues we continue to sift through, a thing about me (and honestly a generation of women like me)—is that we will prioritize our peace and leave everything on do no disturb if it means we can continue to revert into our millennial honey holes and hone in on our wellness and mental health. We gon’ pop on a playlist that feels like love (you can listen to my whole Chestnut Orange playlist there), a good matching set of pjs with the right bounce (baby, I’ve been wearing this Cozy Earth set out since 2021! It’s on sale today), burrow into our wine learning practice or our tinctures, shop, beautify, rest, heal and still be the most generous givers. Especially for the holidays. And because we spend a considerable amount of the year sharing recommendations and products and recipes and links to a book or useful household hack, (and good, well timed memes, thank you) with one another, one can’t help but cultivate good taste along the way.

For the last three years my family has participated in Secret Santa via Elfster, largely born out of a desire to save on overspending during the holidays but also because as working adults we were buying what we wanted for ourselves throughout the year already. I absolutely love participating, but a teeny tiny part of my over achiever brain wants to use my secret Santa’s list as ideas rather than a directive for buying the exact thing someone listed. It’s extra mental gymnastics, I realize, but I like it!

But because I stayed on the path (and the allotted budget), I wanted to create a gift guide of things that reflect unique recommendations or products I’ve bookmarked for myself over the year as a woman who loves “stuff” and lots of it, and would also absolutely buy for someone else to put them on and give them something they may not have otherwise asked for.

Here we go!

Homemade Black Pepper Ceramic Cone

*swoon, drool, repeat

I’ve been wanting to talk about this dang ceramic ice cream-vase-thingy for weeks! I came across it via the rabbit hole of Instagram one evening and immediately went searching for the link to buy because this is what I have adult money for. This elegant and sculptural work of art—a drinking glass/ice cream cone modeled after a call lily is made by a Black woman artist named Taryn Andre, who one scroll through her website shows she is a Renaissance woman skilled across disciplines, and whose pleasure in all of them oozes from every photo. It’s unclear if these are available for purchase or moreso an artist expressing whimsy in creating a thing for their own joy and delight, but I am sold either way.

Gustaf Westman x Mercedes Benz Chunky Plate

Speaking of whimsy, Swedish artist Gustaf Westman’s designs and color palettes feel like the dropped down from a rainbow into a story book with their chunky pastel designs. A world of chairs, serving trays, mirrors, lamps and more that seem made for children but are just imbued with Westman’s admiration for play and wonder for objects suited for adults. Awhile ago he did a collaboration with Mercedez Benz where he iterated on his own chunky ceramic designs and made a few serving platters that were modeled after the Mercedes Benz iconic symbol. A very lovely gift for truly just about anyone in your life you can think of: the hosts, the parents or caretakers of small children, the friends who have everything but always love a unique bespoke gift item that will become a conversation piece.

Jeremy Anderson Ceramic Works

This next object I cannot lie I would search under many a dusty couch cushion across the metropolitan area trying to scrounge up a few thousand dollars to own one of New York based but Minnesota grown artist Jeremy Anderson’s stunning ceramic and gold lamps from his collection Homecoming: Objects of Origin by Jermey Anderson. I learned of Jeremy’s work earlier this year through my dear friend and designer Victoria Sass who runs the phenomenal and multi-award winning studio and now gallery Prospect Refuge Gallery based in Minneapolis. Victoria has some of thee finest taste of anyone I know, and I love how reverential she approaches the curation of designers she works with. Like myself, she is deeply tied to great storytelling through visuals, and Jeremy’s work shows and tells of his journey rooted here in the Midwest.

So many dazzling ripples of stoneware, glaze and 22k gold piccolo’s and vessels, oh my! I must stare at this photo of the Cleo lamp every day so that I can manifest it into my living room one day.

Captivating and sexy and inspired all at once, they are designed with memory and landscape and architecture as their maps and maker. Which one do you desire the most?

Gohar World’s Glass Candy Utentil Rests

The definition of a product that epitomizes the phrase “Lives Rent Free In My Head”. The murano glass candy utensil rests from Gohar has roamed around gleefully on my wish list for three years now. They’re nostalgic with a subtle elegance in the best of ways. I love how they remind me of a Werther’s candy—my mother’s favorite— rolled up in our glass candy dish when I was growing up. And as a glass curator myself who loves a twee and clever design that plays on another design, these absolutely tickle me. But most importantly they’re just stunningly beautiful while also being useful.

Rare Cambridge Amber Glass Cigarette Holder + Rare Bacchaus French Crystal Glass

Speaking of great glassware, I’ve sourced some lovely pieces from my own company GLAS that would make for beautiful gifts this season. In particular I nearly jumped out of my shoes when I came across this rare Cambridge amber smoking glass—just a single one! I’ve been searching for a smoking glass with a sultry shape from the 1960s, and happened to discover this through a serendipitous trip earlier this year. It even has a curved base for holding cigarettes, spoons, forks, etc.

And for any heirloom collectors (raises hand), a woman messaged me about a rare, exquisite 5-piece set of Bacchaus crystal stemware that captures the luxury of 1970s French design. I teetered on keeping this set for myself that’s how much I love it. But the beauty of discovering so many great things is being able to share them with the world and others who will appreciate them as much. I consider you among them, friend. Happy shopping!